Rail-splice.



No. 355,265. lATl-:NTED MAY 28, 1907. L moms. RAIL sPLmE.

APPLIOTION 'FILED SEPT. '7, 1906.

l CT

"Il f clare that the followin is a full, clear, and! :Umfrnnsrrnrns ,Pair ENT OFFICE.

AssieNoR or oNEFonTH To JOHN "-MABUS-, OF EAST-PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

Y RAIL-SPLICE.

No. 355,265.1' specification of To all whom it maly concern/.- Beit known that I, JAMES THOMAS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Joliet, in the countyof Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain -new and useful Im rovements in Rail-Splices; and I do here y deel'iact. ldescription oft e, invention, which* l offsimple' form and great rigidity.

ments inrails lices.

'twill enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains to make and use the same.

. his mventlon has reference to improve- -Anfobje'ct o the invention is to provide a rail s lice" jhaving `few? parts and great rigidity, A iiirther object is to provide a rail splice Another 'object is to provide a rail splice of two portionsl and a key to enter between the partsto take up all shake.V

further 'object 1s to provlde a rail s lice,

'part/oi which'incloses one side of the rai and extends beneath the base thereof in one solid member and having a peculiarly formed up- -tl'lrned' edge at the other side of the rail, and

a second member or'seating-u on the first leaving'a space betweenit and t e upturned 4edge within whichto insert a key or shim for makingatightt between the two members.

In my device I leave the spacebetween the I up'tnrned edgeA of Vtl1e-base of the supporting member and the adjacent ledgeof an msertif ble member forj'the lfp'urpose' of permitting' easy'insertion"` of the member beneaththe railhead; taking up the space thns left by I am awarlof ahumber of rail splices sev eral of which employe key, or keys, for tak-y ing u the space eft between certain of their mem ersf much in the same way that I do it but as to the vparticular structure to be described, or its equivalent, I am notlaware. This device as I' construct it comprises the members of-which there arel two their opposingv faces-being recessed or undercut4 to receive a ke corresponding in cross section to the space etween such members formed by such undercuts. With this as one of the objects in view I shall 'proceed to describe my device. I

' In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a transverse section-of a rail seated in my im# proved splice.- Fig. 2 is a '.top view ofthe sanie on a smaller scale. Eig 3 is a side Letters Patent. ,Patented M55' 28,1907.:

.. Application filed September 7,1906. Serial No. 333,642,-

ter havlng forme base lof the rail erfectly' iittf therein as shown in Fig. 1 t e relation of t in such as to iorm a rigid su ort for the rail ends where the abut. side of the base plate has an upturne edge C provided with an overhang D forming an acute an le with the base as shown. A sec`- ond mem er E is formed much like that just described except'that it does not have theV base late extension but. rests upon the'base plate inside ofthe said upturned edgeC, as shown, leaving a space between it and the overhangD. l

A serie "of bolts F are provided which extend through the portion Bl 'and E and the vertlfgl Oli the rail and serve to draw the formed to correspond substantially with thel recess so as to it .therein as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a slightly modified form .of the keyandlrecess. 'In Fig.'.7 thefedge of the member E is beveled.'somewhatl like the anfied form ofthe key and a key` seat in one ot at one side integral, there-` with, a. ertieal portion B the to of which fits snug y beneath the head of t e rail, thelparts of' all firmly to ether,'there being a Fig. 7 is another modification o f the j e op osite s inserted be- 4gle ofthe overhangs D-thou h more nearly- I a preaching a vertical line. t willbe noted tlliat the key represented by a cannot leave its osition because of its t:wedge shape, neither can there bmover'nent of the memroo ber b (which corres onds to'E 'of the other fi 1re) since it is he d d own by the said key.

eferring to the other ii e, it will be noted that the overhang D of t e art C and the recess H, together with the ey, constitute a lock for preventing the member E from leavg Istengel;

ing the plate B or moving in the slightest devree so that even without the bolts F heretoore described the member E would remain firmly in position.

Fis my preference to employ aseries of bots 'J which extend u ward through the late B and the member for receiving nuts the heads of the' bolts being'le't into the base B so there will be no ro'ections' below the splice. These bolts wiil obviously serve in clamping the parts tightly together. In addition to this I employr spi-kes L at as many places as desi-red to hold the splice to the ties as shown. The key. G has no taper and fits snugly from end to end in its seat, however, if desired a slight taper could be imparted to it and I desire to make it understood that I may employ a key of sufficient length to -exte'nd the entire length of the splice as represented in dotted lines x, this being optional. Set screws M enter the portions C, the ends of which bear upon the key and `hold it in place,

but these need not be used. Other means may ofcourse be used for the same `purpose as l do not confine myself to any particular method of so doing, in fact, as l have shown -in Fig. 1,- and also in Fig. 2, the spikes L are so positioned that as they are driven home they will contact with the 'curved surface of the key, bindin tighter and ti hter as thev are driven fart er in, thereby holding the key permanently in position.

As has been intimated l may use the bolts J or the spikes L singly or both to ther for securin the member E in place an( may use either t e said s ikes or the screws M or even 'other means to iold the keys in place, and l,

may change the shape of the overhang D, of the part C, as also the groove ll of the mein her E, the main purpose being to provide some such means 'as that described by which toilock the said member E in its position; it being evident that other forms of the key may be readily used. ln addition to what has been described the inner surface of the portion C- instead of forming an overhang could be provided with a recess similar to the recess H as shownin Fig. 6, the key being made to correspond therewith. 1

My pur' ose in bringing out the present form of sp ice is to provide the member E of a size that instead of I'ittinr snugly between the rail and the member t 'as in some devices of this class, can be seated loosely therein and afterward the space and shake be taken up 'by the inserted key. This allows for greater latitude in making the rolls which are to roduce the parts.

As a )ove intimated, by making the insertible member E narrower in transverse measuremept along its base it can be easily dropped in to piace, the intervening space re ceiving the key to make the fit. A

After the device has become worn or slightly loosened if such'should occur after long and continual use the key may be withdrawn and after tightening the bolts F a new and larger key may take the place of the old one to restore the loriginal condition. The

1. The combination wlth a base having at one side of the place of the rail an upwardly" extendi portion under cut on its inner face, of a mem er interposed between the place of 'the rail and said portion and having the face next said portion undercut, anda key adapted to fitthe space between the said undercut I faces.

2. The combination 'with a base having at oneside of the place of the rail .an upwardly extendin portion under cut onits inner face, of a mem er interposed between the place of the rail and said portion and having the face next said portion recessed, and a key adapted to i-t the space between said undercut face and said relcessled face.- b f5 3. A rai s` ice co risi a ase or su porting the iiail thensmeneing of greatgr Width than the base of saidrail and' havingat one side an upward extensionpfor inclosmg one side of the rail, and having at its opposite side aupturned portion the-inner surface .of which forms an overhang, arsecond tension beyond the rail1 such extension being l undercut to form an overhang facing the rail, the clamping member at that side Aof the rail bei-ng recessed `longitudinally facing the overhang, the recessed rtion being lie,-l moved rom the vicini-ty ofthe overhang, and means adapted to enter the space between the overhang and the recessed member and also adapted to enter the recess for preventing movement of the clamping member.

5. .d rail splice compris a base for sup-v porting the rail, the sam'geing of greater width than lthe base ofthe 'rail and 4inclosing one side of the rail, and having at its'opposite side 4an upturned portion whose inner ond member for inclosing the op osite side of the rail, the same lying parta y upon the tudinal portingthe rail, the same member and partially upon the rail base, A

there being' a sp'ace left between it and the overhang, there being a'substantially longiroove in the second member to face the overang, and athird member adapted orfentering thef'space and the groove, the glve and said overhang preventing the veifti al movement of the second and third ers relatively and relative tothe first member-. -j -6-L A rail splice comprising a -base for supein 'of eater width transversely than the width-'of t erailbase and lhaving at one'side aninclosi kf extension for one side of and vto fit the rail, its opposite -edge'having an overha facing the rai a second member for fitting t e posit'e side ofthe rail from that inclosed byiie first member and lying u on the latter member and the rail-base, an a third member`- ada ted for entrance between the second mem er and the overhang of the first member, there being a longitudinal roove in the said second member, the third m mber being adapted to` engage the groove and thereby prevented -having vertical movement and also preventvertical movement of the second member.

7. A rail splice comprising; porting the rail,""the same' widthl.. than the rail base and having at one side an extension, inclosing one side of base for supthe rail, its oppositiegidehaving an overhang facing the rail, said overhang extendin u ward from the base and inward towar e rail, the bottom of the overhang being substantially in line with theunder side of the rail-base, a seeond`member for inclosing that side of the rail facing the overhang and resting upon the rail-base and the base of the first 'described member, there bein Aa longitudinal groove in said second-mem er facing the overhang, and means ventered lie- -tween the 4second member and the overhang and within thegroove for preventing the second member from moving'relative to the first member and therail.

8. A rail. splice comprisin base for supporting the rail, the; same Ving of greater width than' the-rail-base and havin at Aone side an extensionfor inclosingv one si e ofthe rail and having'at its other side a'vertical extension, its upperedge facing'the rail and overhanging its own base,` a second' rail.`in

closing member seated iipon the raillbase and the base ofthe first member between the rail and the overhanging vertical extension, there being a space left between the second member and the overhang, there being a l'onitudinal groove in the said second member acing the overhang, and means entered in said space and occupyingl the groove and lying beneath the overhang for holding the parts allinfri id relation. I

9. A rail sp ice comprising a base for suping of greater porting the rail, thel same being of 'greater width than the width loi. the railfbasennd having at one sidean inclosure for one side el' the rail and having at its opposite side an' u turned eXteIe'ion, the inner upper edge of t e extension overhanging its base, a second member inclosing the op osite side oi the rail and resting uponv the -rai -base vand the base oi the first member', there beinva space between the sa-id second member andJ for lrawingthe rail-inclosing portions firmly together against the rail .and means for illing the space between'-tl1'e overhang and the second member after the said-bolts are tightsaid second member .into 'which s aid means is designed to enter, the means ladapter? 'through the overhan and groove to prevent vertical movement o the parts-relatively,

10. A rail splice comprisingfa base for su p width `thanthe rail-base andhaving at one side' an upward extension-forjnclosi11g one side of the rail'and having at its opposite side an u turned portion', the inner vsurface of -whie forms an overhang,- aseco'nd member there being aspace etween it and -the overhang, bolts for drawing thejrail-inclosing side ol' the rail and havindat oppositeside an u ward extension, gt e srfaoc'o .whic forms an overhang, a member for inclosing the opposite sid' there being afspace 'etweenit hang boltsffjorj'drawin'g Y members againstf'the rail, means for 'lering the space" between tlie-.gsece theA overhang after' the` bolt there being a longitifdinalgrq second ',member, facing the space 1 filling meanslfajdap'teg groo ve an dlprev'ent relativejinvementjofthe movement of the/space illihgibfns 12. A rail splice comprising .abaseorfsup porting the rail, the "same, being of greater width than vthe railbase.and having'at'one side an upward extensionv for inclosing one sideof the rail and having at its opposite side an upturned portion, the inner Surface of which forms an overhang a second member for inclosing the opposite'rside Vof the raill the'overhang, bolts' ened, there being a longitudinal-groovein the for inclosing the o posite side of the rail, A

members against the rail, means for entering y porting the rail, the same being-oi greater Y greater parts and means 'for preve'nizi'ligC ngitdinal groove and prevent relative movement of the arts means for neventixw lon itudinal Amovement of the space filling means, and

mea-ns for locking the first and second members together.

13. A rail splice comprising a base as u sup ort for the rail, the sameextending at eac side of the latter, one side having n vertical portlon for inolosing the mil as shown,

the opposite side having an upturned portion the inner surface 'of which overhangs the base, a second member for inolosingl the opposite side of the rail the same resting upon the vbase and having a groove in its edge opposite the overhanving upturned portion, there being a space left between the two, a member for entering the space for the purposes set forth, and set screws in the upturned portion for engaging the insertible member for securing it in place against voluntary movement. 'f j In testimony whereof I-allix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES THOMAS.

Witnesses:

E. J. ABERSOL, L. M. TnURLow. 

